The best shot you've never seen

From Seve Ballesteros’ iconic putt on the 18th green at St Andrews to Jean van de Velde standing in the Barry Burn at Carnoustie, there are many iconic moments in the history of The Open that have been replayed over and over again.

Yet you are extremely unlikely to have seen one of the most magical and significant shots to have been played at Royal Portrush, the venue for next year’s Championship.

Portrush first served as host in 1951, with the charismatic figure of Max Faulkner securing the Claret Jug.

Faulkner was six clear with 18 holes to play and ultimately triumphed by two, yet things could have been very different had he not rescued the unlikeliest of pars on the 16th (now the 18th hole of the Dunluce Links) in his third round.

Allow the inimitable Faulkner to take up the story.

“There was a stile, I was near out of bounds and a barbed wire fence. And my ball was only a yard away (from the stile) and I had to swing the club very upright,” said the Englishman.

“I had a little baffy thing, a 4-wood in these days, and I was a trick shot player when I was young and I knew I could do it.

“I had to hit this ball out of bounds, through a barbed wire fence, and curl it. And I hit this ball with no follow-through, otherwise I'd have torn my hands to pieces on the barbed wire fence that my bottom was leaning against.

“And this ball shot underneath, it didn't raise for 30 yards, hardly at all. It went under the wire and it started to curl and it curled right round, 40 yards or more, onto the green. It was only a 6-iron shot but my ball travelled about 180 yards in a big circle. And it pitched on the green, stopped like a niblick and I was only about five yards from the pin.”

Faulkner’s remarkable shot kept him on course for Open glory and also drew generous praise from his previously silent playing partner.

“The last 36 holes, I played with Frank Stranahan, the American, and I said "good morning, Frank’,” explained Faulkner.

“Not a word (came back), he never said good morning! I thought 'ooh, that's it' and that was it, never spoke one word, until we got to the 16th that morning round.

“And (his) first words, walking from in front of the crowd (were), ‘Max – that’s the finest shot I’ve ever seen in my life’. And he shook me by the hand.”

A four-round total of 285 was enough for Faulkner to finish two ahead of Antonio Cerda of Argentina.

“Toni Cerda finished second and he finished in the same spot in the last round and he went to try and play it out, he hit the wire and he took six,” said Faulkner.

“And I won by two shots - that trick shot won me The Open.”